'More than 20 torture methods' used in Syria

The Human Rights Watch report documents more than 20 distinct torture methods used by the security and intelligence services.

A 31-year-old detainee who was held in Idlib governorate in June described to Human Rights Watch how the intelligence agencies tortured him in the Idlib Central Prison.

They forced me to undress. Then they started squeezing my fingers with pliers.

They put staples in my fingers, chest and ears. I was only allowed to take them out if I spoke. The staples in the ears were the most painful.

They used two wires hooked up to a car battery to give me electric shocks. They used electric stun-guns on my genitals twice. I thought I would never see my family again. They tortured me like this three times over three days.